You either win or you learn 🎖 Issue #69

According to Daniel Burka, design partner at Google Ventures - you either “win or you learn” in a design sprint. This is a much better way of explaining the fail fast idea, and one which I think will resonate with C-level and executive teams.

Why spend five months making something that may fail, when you can spend five days?

Slow and steady might win the race, but sprinting can help kickstart that initial concept. Burka explains the concept of a “design sprint,” details how to get your team on board and highlights actionable steps to ensure “you either win or you learn.”

How can designers elevate their position in a boardroom? Daniel Burka shares why he thinks design is the equivalent of the scientific method for businesses, plus more about the Google Design Sprint.

Great tips in this post. “Limiting options” is something I strive for time and time again. The less options you give a user, the less they have to understand and the quicker they can complete their task. Worth reading!

In her first interview, the chain’s new boss says it is in good shape - but it needs to change. I look forward to seeing what Paula Nickolds does with the 150-year company in a time when online is winning and your business is based upon department stores.

How does project management fit into Agile software development? I don’t know and that’s why I read up with articles like this. Waterfall methods mean that you have to estimate stuff first and endlessly tweak deadlines to deliver on a time agreed with leadership. That doesn’t sound right! User research tells us what we need to achieve and data tells us the opportunities to improve conversion. Why can’t we just iterate, iterate, ITERATE?

Woke to the tragic news of the death of Mike Hall this morning, who was racing (and possibly winning) the Indian Pacific Wheel Race in Australia. He died doing what he loved. My condolences to his family and friends. I never met Mike, but hoped that one day I’d listen to his racing briefing at a Transcontinental Race one day. I still can’t quite believe we’ve lost this great talent 😭